Roxann Karkhoff-Schweizer

Interested in biowarfare bacterial agents, like Burkholderia species. Also, the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Overall, I am interested in genetic engineering strategies of Gram negative bacteria. To facilitate the analysis of cloned bacterial genes requires special genetic and molecular tools. I have been involved with the improvement of gene replacement systems to facilitate allelic replacement in Pseudomonas and other Gram negative bacteria. Also, I have been involved with construction of genetic systems that allow single copy insertion into the bacterial chromosome of novel or unique genetic features. This may mean construction of many new engineered plasmids. I have a strong curiosity to understand the genetic mechanisms that give rise to antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas and Burkholderia species. I have a strong drive to be involved with training undergraduates for careers in research.